- Joined
- May 16, 2016
- Messages
- 1,698
So the pipe cleaner oiler on the apron should just be filled with a little bit of oil every time the lathe is used and it just siphons all the oil onto the lead screw? The manual shows like the pipe cleaner might go under the lead screw, but that doesn't sound correct, should it be positioned to have the end drip oil right onto the lead screw right next to the auto feed gear box?
I assume so, can you post a few pictures of the set up, I'm not familiar with the Atlas lathes I have never seen one they may not have ever been sold here in down under land. If you can post a pic of the page in the manual, and also a pic of the oil feeder set up on the apron or saddle.
It is my understanding of the wick feeders. I have worked on many machines that used them, that they should not have the wick hang down too far as this will cause them to siphon all the oil out too quickly and not only waste oil, but also make a mess. Plain bearings in good condition do not need a lot of oil.
Does your lead screw operate with the half nuts only or does it also have a key-way cut in it to drive a gear for your long and cross feed, or do you have a separate feed shaft? if you only have the half nut system then it should drip onto the lead screw just in front of the half nut. there may even be a hole drilled into the half nut for the oil to drip into. If you also have a drive for long and cross feed then you really should have a separate oil feed to that system.